Scientists Urge Rehiring Of Fired Lab Worker

A group of scientists who work to limit the spread of nuclear weapons is urging the U.S. Energy Secretary to intervene on behalf of a fired worker at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Santa Fe political scientist James Doyle says he was fired after 17 years on the job in July after writing an article for a nonprofit web site in support of abolishing nuclear weapons. Doyle worked on the lab's non-proliferation team.

Federation of American Scientists President Charles Ferguson urged Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to ensure that that Doyle isn't penalized for participating in the national dialogue over nuclear policy.

Doyle tells the Santa Fe New Mexican (http://bit.ly/1rpTbbs) he was fired after lab officials claimed his article raised classification concerns. He says the article had been cleared for publication.